Coin Slot Magazine - #088 - 1982 - June[International Arcade Museum]
Restoration & Repair
Continued from page 45
When a multi-player machine is equipped with
two or three of these units, they operate
individually in quick succession, resulting in
the most fabulously thrilling display of rapid-fire
electro-mechanical hoopla that one could ever hope to
witness.
While each manufacturer, be it Evans, Keeney, Mills,
Bally, or Universal, has approached the design of their
systems from slightly different angles, the final results
are the same — for when any true collector beholds
such a machine as it is taken through its paces, the
coins may as well have been shot through his heart, for
he will surely have to possess it.
to accelerate, thus shortening cycle time significantly.
The idea is to pull the handle sometime after the last
click but before the clock stops to get 3 turns of the
reel, pulling a little sooner or a little later until you get a
cherry on the first reel, then holding it there until the
tube is empty.
Unfortunately,
my ROL-A-TOP has
never been rebuilt and the clock doesn't repeat per
fectly. From a dead stop the first reel will spin anywhere
from 31/2 to 3% turns. I tried a restored Pace but got the
same results, only less eratic. Possibly if the Pace was
worn in it would do better. If you want to read about this
system there is some information in "Scarne's Com
plete Guide to Gambling."
Sincerely,
Richard J. Fague
Dear Mr. Fague,
Thank you for your letter detailing the theory of the
This Month's Letter
In the October article on probability and odds, I
stated "There is no method of symbol or payout
counting, special technique for pulling the handle,
custom computer programming system, bombardment
with x-rays and laser beams, or use of nuclear power
which can be used to gain an advantage over the
random spinning of those fruit-covered reels."
Many readers wrote in to say that a "rhythm system"
existed, but, unfortunately, all were unable either to
describe the system or the theory behind it, nor had
any of them actually seen the system in use or known
anyone who had used or could demonstrate such a
system.
Luckily, however, a letter shedding light on this
system has been received from fellow collector Richard
Fague. Herewith is Mr. Fague's description and my
response:
Dear Mr. Harrison,
I've been interested in the rhythm system for a long
time. Over the years I've talked to many operators, they
had heard of it but none of them knew anything about
rhythm system. From your description I have
concluded that in practice, such a system could
only be successful if used by very skillful players on
consistently exact machines. Since control can be
exercised over the first reel only, this system is effective
with single cherry payout machines exclusively, and
thus could not have become popular until after the war.
Assuming that it takes five or six pulls to establish the
rhythm, as a player would at best receive only two
coins for each one inserted, his timing would have to
be quite exact for him to be able to empty the tube
faster than he was filling it. When we add failures
caused by the players mistakes or inconsistencies in
the machine, the success rate would be even further
reduced. I think it might be less work to get an honest
job.
Sincerely,
Marc
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it, or where I could get any information about it. Nor had
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they known anyone who could rhythm a machine. Or
Bernie Berten
page 19
they didn't want to discuss it. I suspect that the rhythm
Bodzer's Antique Slot Machine Co
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system is about as hard to learn as it is to count cards
page 3
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Back Cover
can't be rhythmed is a Caille SUPERIOR JACKPOT. I
know this because back in the late fifties I got wind of
the system and started fooling with my Caille to see if it
worked. Well, I found out immediately that the clock
stops right after the last click so there can be no
control. I will use my ROL-A-TOP as an example to
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Evans and Frink
page 2
page 9
page 13
Tony Goodstone
Stan Harris
JamieLynn Cabinets
Jones
page 19
page 14
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explain what I think is the rationale behind this system.
I put a piece of masking tape on the first reel to see how
Jukebox Junction
Miami Antique Slot Machine Co
many turns I get per cycle. I found that the first reel
Mills Novelty Co.
page 13
turns 31/2 times before it stops, if the clock is at a dead
Nevada Magazine
One Arm Bandit
page 25
page 49
and make money at Black Jack. One machine I know
page 7
.com
m
:
u
immediately after the last m
click
the number
of turns on
e
s The
r to o 21A turns.
u
f
m
the first reel is reduced
reason
for this
d
-
de instance
de the fan has to accelerate
a
oa first
change is, in l the
c
r
n
ow stop w to w a .a peak speed and then slow down
from D
a dead
/w
as the spring
tension decreases, finally coasting to a
tp:/ second
ht the
stop. In
instance the clock is spinning at
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page 35
somewhere near its peak speed when the handle is
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pulled, thereby eliminating the time needed for the fan
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stop when the handle is pulled. If the handle is pulled
46 — THE COIN SLOT
© The International Arcade Museum
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June, 1982
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